GBS????

[Bubbbles]

I was wondering if anyone could help me with helping me come up with an explanation>
My dad is 61 yrs old, was strong and healthy.  He got a flu and was sick for about 1 wk>  suddenly, he started to feel really bad, uncomfortable, all around very weird that mom took him to the hospital.  Suddenly his left side of his face drooped and they thought he was having a major stroke but tests revealed that it was'nt.  He was hospitalized and the next day he could hardly talk and his body was loosing its strength.  The next morning he was put on life support, he lost all of his strength, and his tongue dropped and started to choke him.  Since then he''s been on a respirator, and was able to breathe on his own and move his hands and legs, cannot move anything on his face but can hear us and communicate with us with his hands (thumbs up for yes, down for no).   He had strength in his legs too. That was a few days ago.  Last couple of days, he's lost all movement, now completely paralyzed and cannot breathe on his own.  Worse thing is that he's fully aware of whats happening to him and he cannot even open his eyes to see us there.  He's literally buried in his own body.  Doc. thinks its GBS and MF (miller fisher).... but all the tests come back inconclusive!  At this point, they have treated him for both botulism and GBS... but it seems he's getting worse.  Now he has phlegm in his chest and his nose is runny.  I am really concerned with this and would like to know if you have any suggestions for us.  We would like him to be moved to a better hospital, but how do we do this???
Thanks,
Liz

[Bubbbles]

Thanks for your advice.  I wonder what you think about finding a way to transferring my dad to a better hospital, there are a few in the Toronto area....(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
I just feel that this is a general hospital and they're not sure how to proceed, while he's in Intensive Care... Other teaching hospitals are well known for their neurology dept.s and might be of better assistance.. what would be your opinion??  Do you think its worth asking his current doctor or would that offend him?
Liz

[DrNavneetMD]

Hello Dear,
The the symptoms are indicative of Guillain-Barré Syndrome termed as syndrome rather than a disease because there is no conclusive evidence to support the possibility that a specific disease-causing agent such as a bacteria or a virus is the direct cause of the malady. Infections may be a trigger to the development of GBS, however. The inflammation reaction damages the nerves of the brain and spinal cord, producing weakness in the muscles, loss of sensation such as the sense of touch in the fingers, or outright paralysis.
It typically begins with weakness and/or abnormal sensations of the legs and arms.  It can also affect muscles of the chest, face and eyes.  Although many cases are mild, some patients are virtually paralyzed.  Breathing muscles may be so weakened that a machine is required to keep the patient alive.  Many patients require an intensive care unit during the early course of their illness, especially if support of breathing with a machine is required.  Although most people recover, the length of the illness is unpredictable and often months of hospital care are required. The majority of patients eventually return to a normal or near normal lifestyle, but many endure a protracted recovery and some remain wheelchair-bound indefinitely.Because progression of the disease in its early stages is unpredictable, most newly diagnosed patients are hospitalized and usually placed in an intensive care unit to monitor breathing and other body functions. Care involves use of general supportive measures for the paralyzed patient, and also methods specifically designed to speed recovery, especially for those patients with major problems, such as the inability to walk. Plasma exchange and high dose intravenous immune globulins are often helpful to shorten the course of GBS.

  I think the treatment being given is alright and hope for the best.You can refer http://www.gbs-cidp.org/aboutgbs.htm
Goodluck